Chapter 601: The Few Remaining Lives

Early the next morning, after escorting Yang Yin back to school, Lu Cheng finally took two technicians and the last batch of blueprints and rushed to the train bound for Shencheng.

Lying in the bunk car, listening to the clatter of the iron rail outside, his mind was filled with Yang Yin's charming figure from that night.

Except for the final step, Lu Cheng domineeringly explored almost every part of Yang Yin's body.

It was also that night that the two made a promise: after graduating from university, they would get married.

It was a bit early, to be honest; Lu Cheng hadn't fully prepared, but he didn't want to miss a girl he liked so much.

All the way, Lu Cheng already began to imagine Yang Yin dressed as a bride.

Only upon arriving in Shencheng did Lu Cheng pull his thoughts away and step off the train.

Compared with the relaxed Research Institute, the Shencheng Vehicle Factory was bustling, each workshop in full swing.

In a component‑casting workshop, he saw Chief Engineer Tan Zonggong.

The two shook hands warmly, and Tan Kaiping's first words were: "Sergeant Lu, you look noticeably thinner this time."

Lu Cheng unconsciously patted his cheek; it wasn't just Tan Kaiping who said so.

That night, Yang Yin, half‑naked, lay on top of him, counting his ribs one by one, also saying he had lost weight, his ribs becoming clearly visible.

Recalling that romantic scene, Lu Cheng quickly shook his head to dispel it, thinking it was untimely to dwell on it now.

"I think Chief Engineer Tan also looks quite haggard."

Tan Kaiping smiled: "Indeed, this internal‑combustion engine has been tormenting us all. Come, let's go to my office to talk, have some tea…"

Lu Cheng shook his head: "No need, Chief Engineer Tan, let's discuss right here in the workshop; it's a good chance for me to conduct an on‑site inspection and learn."

Lu Cheng came over just to see the on‑site progress; before he only spoke over the phone, but with such a long line, many details were impossible to imagine.

Tan Kaiping led him on a tour; because the process follows drawing the blueprints while producing, based on the earlier submitted plans, the workshop already had a pile of manufactured components.

"Sergeant Lu, I see the last batch of blueprints has also been brought over; I'll arrange for people to start production immediately."

Lu Cheng shook hands again: "Thanks for your hard work, Chief Engineer Tan. I'm not only here for an on‑site inspection; I also want to ask you directly on which exact day the internal‑combustion engine can be fully produced."

Actually he could have asked over the phone, but Lu Cheng insisted on coming, and Tan Kaiping naturally understood how crucial the timing was for Lu Cheng.

So when answering, he thought carefully for a moment.

It wasn't merely a question of whether the task could be completed within the deadline, but it concerned an old revolutionary's hope.

Tan Kaiping held up three fingers: "Three months."

Lu Cheng shook his head: "No, that's too long."

Tan Kaiping was momentarily stunned; as Chief Engineer, his words were ones even the Factory Director dared not contradict.

But it's Lu Cheng—we're talking about the man who rescued him from the fire.

And Lu Cheng's objection wasn't personal; it was for that old revolutionary.

To give an exact timeline, Tan Kaiping had to summon several workshop supervisors.

They discussed together; even if the Vehicle Factory poured all its resources into producing a small internal‑combustion engine, they could only shave off another fifteen days.

That's two and a half months, the shortest the factory could offer, yet for Lu Cheng it was still too long.

"Sergeant Lu, I know you're anxious; honestly, I'm anxious too. The department even issued a directive to our Vehicle Factory, demanding that at any cost, overcoming all difficulties, the internal‑combustion engine must be produced.

But… it's not the same as the preliminary R&D done at the Research Institute. Take component casting, for example; it follows step‑by‑step procedures, and no amount of haste helps."

Hearing Tan Kaiping say that, Lu Cheng realized he was asking the impossible and forced himself to calm down.

Tan Kaiping saw his reluctance and asked, "Captain Lei, how much time does he have left?"

Lu Cheng took a gentle breath: "I visited a while ago; now he's often in a coma, even on a respirator, and it's likely he won't make it through even a month."

Hearing that Captain Lei's life was truly short, Tan Kaiping felt a pang of unease.

At the Vehicle Factory, many workers, upon learning of Captain Lei's story, were willing to work overtime for free, eager to rush the engine's production.

Especially those comrades from the Research Institute; although they hadn't been on site, they could cut the time to six months and finish development early, proving how hard everyone had worked.

But if all that effort still failed to fulfill Captain Lei's wish, the prior work would be in vain.

"Sergeant Lu, I'm sorry…"

Lu Cheng quickly shook his head; the Chief Engineer's apology was something he couldn't bear.

"Chief Engineer Tan, you've exhausted me; regardless of whether we meet the deadline, there's no need to say 'sorry'."

I think… Captain Lei may have regrets, but if we succeed in making it, that's a huge advancement for the whole country. I can imagine this, and Captain Lei surely can too; even if he departs with regret, he'll be comforted.

"So our current efforts are not in vain."

Tan Kaiping's face broke into a smile; he hadn't expected Lu Cheng to say that.

He thought, if Lei Zhan Ge truly left with satisfaction, it must be because there was Lu Cheng as his successor.

"Alright, Sergeant Lu, I'll try again; even if I pour all my lifelong knowledge into it, I'll try to shorten the time further."

Since Tan Kaiping said that, Lu Cheng had no reason to stay; otherwise the workers would feel he was supervising them.

After handing the last batch of blueprints to the Vehicle Factory, Lu Cheng took the train two days later back to the Capital City.

He went straight to visit Captain Lei.

Niu Da Kui was also there; normally only Lei Nainai was present. Being already elderly, caring for patients in the hospital was exhausting, and Lei Nainai could not manage alone.

So Lu Cheng transferred Niu Da Kui back from the train.

Lu Cheng had already prepared what to say to persuade Lei Zhan Ge, after all the old man didn't want everyone to waste time on him.

But unexpectedly, when Lei Zhan Ge saw Niu Da Kui come into the ward, even bringing bedding, he didn't object to Niu Da Kui staying.

Lu Cheng thought perhaps Lei Zhan Ge no longer had the strength to argue, or maybe, in his dwindling days, he simply wanted to see Niu Da Kui a few more times.

Compared with Zhao Jinzhu, who is already married with children and even improving, his greatest worry was actually the intellectually disabled Niu Da Kui.

When Lu Cheng arrived at the hospital, Niu Da Kui was wiping Lei Zhan Ge's body.

This big boy, full of brute strength, was now moving his hands so delicately.

Since being bedridden these past months, Lei Zhan Ge has rapidly wasted away, looking like a skin‑and‑bones sack, and his eagle eyes have lost their former luster.

Noticing Lu Cheng's entrance, Lei Zhan Ge waved his slender, long arm.

Lu Cheng hurried over and grasped the hand.

"Why didn't you bring classmate Xiao Yang along?"

Lei Zhan Ge's voice was weak, even somewhat garbled.